USAID Timor-Leste - Programs - Highlight: Democracy and Governance

Highlight Photo

Parliamentarians from rival political parties
Fernando LaSama de Araujo and Aniceto Guterres
hugged each other like brothers during the
opening of the Parliament in July 2007.

[File Photo: DAI/SGP]

The Making of “A Parliament for the People” Documentary Film (June 2, 2008)

The documentary film “A Parliament for the People” was conceived as a simple documentary film project meant to inform the public about the roles and responsibilities of Timor-Leste’s lawmaking body. But, as filmmaker Max Stahl documented the Parliament’s activities with his camera early this year, President José Ramos-Horta was seriously injured and rebel leader Alfredo Reinado was killed in a gun battle on February 11.

“February 11 changed everything. Many of the parliamentarians’ regular activities, such as visits to the districts, which we planned to film, had to be cancelled after the state of siege was declared. But while this was initially a problem, it also became an opportunity to show the Parliament responding to the crisis,” Max Stahl said.

The Parliament and the country’s reaction to the crisis is just one of the stories captured in “A Parliament for the People”. The documentary also benefited from Max Stahl’s earlier footage covering the previous Parliament’s deliberations on the Petroleum Fund law in 2005, as well as the passage of the budget.

The forty-two minute film, which Televizaun Timor-Leste (TVTL) started airing before the evening news on 27 May, was a collaborative effort between USAID’s Small Grants Program (USAID/SGP) and Centro Audiovisual Max Stahl Timor-Leste (CAMSTL).

USAID/SGP Chief of Party Kate Heuisler explained the project’s genesis thus: “In 2007, the Timorese people elected a new President and their representatives to the Parliament. However, for many people, especially those living in the rural areas with limited access to information, there were many things unclear, such as the priorities of the new Government, the roles and responsibilities of the Parliament, and so on. The question remains: How much does the population know about what the Government does? This is why USAID/SGP decided to make civic education a priority.”

The idea for the documentary was presented and discussed between USAID/SGP and the incumbent leaders of the National Parliament. CAMSTL screened the film twice for the parliamentarians’ feedback and approval. Mr. Pedro da Costa, a parliamentarian representing the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction Party, had this to say after viewing the film: “This is an important and historical film that can help the public understand the work of the Parliament.”

To ensure that the documentary reaches as many people as possible, USAID/SGP is also working with the Forum of NGOs of Timor-Leste (FONGTIL) and the Ministry of Education’s Department of Non-Formal Education. FONGTIL will distribute DVDs to all 442 sucos nationwide while the Ministry of Education will be screening the documentary as alternative education material for adult literacy classes in the districts outside Dili.

It is expected that the TVTL broadcast, combined with the community screenings, will reach more than 300,000 viewers by the end of June.

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